What IS Access Tech?

Automatic doors (ACCESS) helps EVERYONE!!

Welcome to a new blog featuring a passion of mine known to others in the field as "assistive technology" or  (AT) in the digital age!  It seems new "gadgets" are being introduced to folks of all ages and stages to improve "access" to various forms of content.  The purpose of this blog is to highlight and share items of interest as they apply to everyone's journey as lifelong learners.

When I started my career in the field of education in the late 70's, the 1975 Public Law 94-142, which is known as IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), made it a federal law that school age individuals with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate public education.  Revision of the law over time has stated that the education must be "least restrictive" and that the general education classroom/curriculum is appropriate.  No longer was it "OK" to exclude children with differences from attending public school nor was having a "separate" facility legal.  Currently the "buzz" word is known as "inclusion".  Will you become a part of the grassroots movement to "embrace" and "honor" individuals who are ALWAYS people FIRST!!  Each of us have unique learning styles and needs that creates a vary diverse community, please join me in finding ways to continue making a difference in the lives we touch each and everyday.

Using the right "tool"

It is my desire this blog will serve as a means of sharing exciting "real" examples of bringing the best of all worlds together (technology-curriculum-best practices) as it relates to the field of education.  AT is simply a way of looking at tools and applying those tools/technics to everyday learning opportunities.  We can all relate to using a "spoon" to access a bowl of cereal or soup, the tool allows us to engage the liquid, without the "tool" we may struggle to gain "access".


Without a proper "tool" we may quickly loose interest or desire to achieve and become more "enabled" vs "empowered".  Hope you will continue to walk this path together.  Please feel free to share your thoughts too!

We could  use a shovel to "access" the cereal, but would it be appropriate?